Heated cushion



Oct. 4, 1932. w, KlRK 1,881,198

HEATED CUSHION Filed Jan. 28, 1950 Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATESWILLIAM J. KIRK, OF WELLSBUBG, WEST VIRGINIA HEATED CUSHION Applicationfiled January 28, 1980. Serial No. 423,962.

This invention relates to an article of manufacture in the form of acushion having means provided within the covering thereof for generatingheat whereby the user may enjoy warmth while using the cushion in theusual manner.

Various types of electric heating pads are available at the present timein which there is a flexible heating element suitably encased in anenvelope of soft fabric. Such devices, however, are not sufficientlythick to afford any cushioning efi'ect. According to the presentinvention there is incorporated on one side of a cushion a heating unitof a suitable type, while the cushion itself is stuffed with the usualwadding and the heating unit itself entirely concealed within thecushion. The heating unit is preferably an electric heating unit and theenvelope of the cushion is preferably an ornamental one so that thedevice has 7 the appearance of a cushion. It can be conveniently used inthe bottom of a chair or at the back of a chair. Beside the comfortwhichsuch a device will afford, it has a definite therapeutic value thesame as any heating appliance of this nature.

The invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing which is illustrative of one embodiment thereof and in whichFigure 1 is a plan view of a cushion made in accordance with myinvention, parts of the cushion being broken away to show the underlayers thereof, and

Figure 2 represents a transverse vertical section on the plane of lineII--II of Fig. 1.

In the drawing 2 designates the cushion which is of the usualconstruction, having a top fabric 3 and a bottom fabric 3 with a side 4.The interior of the pillow or cushion is filled with wadding or stufiing5. Under the top fabric 3 and positioned above the wadding is a heatingunit, preferably an electric unit. This unit may be of any known orpreferred type, preferably, however, comprisin an upper layer ofinsulating fabric 6, such or instance, as asbestos cloth, and a lowerlayer of a similar fabric 7. Between the layers of fabric 6 and 7 arethe usual sinuous heating or resistance wires 8 which I have shownarranged in the conventional fashion.

The wires for supplying current to the heating resistance 8 arepreferably contained in a cable 9. As shownin the drawin the top fabric3 is preferably an ornamenta fabric, and the fabric 3 may also be anornamental one. The device may be circular, as shown, or may be anyother shape. In its general appearance it does not differ from the 60ordinary sofa cushion. The heating unit, being pliable, the cushion isjust as soft as the ordinary sofa cushion, and it can be used in thesame way.

By providing a considerable thickness of C5 padding 5 on one side of theheating unit, the dissipation of heat in this direction is considerablyretarded, the wadding providing a heat insulation as well as a cushion.The heavy thickness of padding, moreover, affords a protection to theheating unit because it prevents the heating unit from be ing folded orbent too sharply. The device can be used like an ordinary cushion, andwhen it is desired to provide the additional comfort or the beneficialapplication of heat, it is merely necessary to connect the cable 9 witha suitable source of electric current.

It is more convenient to use in may respects than the ordinary heatingpad because it is not necessary to use other pillows or cushions, norcan the heating unit slip out of position as can the ordinary heatingpad.

It will be understood that in place of an electric heating unit otherheating means could be used but the electric heating unit is preferablebecause of its convenience, and its long life and pliability.

I claim as my invention:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a cushion adapted for use as a chairpad comprising a fabric envelope, a mass of wadding within the envelope,and a heating unit at one side of the cushion adjacent the envelopeentirely enclosed within the envelope, the

thickness and character of the wadding being comparable to that cushion.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a cushion adapted for use as a chairpad comprisof an ordinary ing an envelope stuffed with a mass of waddingof a thickness comparable to an ordinary cushion, two layers of fabricwithin the envelope and lying immediately adjacent the envelope, beinginterposed between the envelope and the element between tliegtwo layeigsof fabr c.

In testimony whereof I heire here unto set my hand.

WILIJIAMF'J. v KIRK.

ing, den ,e eetric e n

